Improvement in hemp-brakes



2 sh t-sh u. E. W. LACY. GGS e@ Hemp Brake.

Patented Dec. 23. 1856.

NfPETERs. Phonoiimugmpm. wnsmnmn, n. c.

PATENT Ormea EDWARD wf LACY, Yon OAK PARK, VIRGINIA.

IMPROVEMENT N Hemp-BRAKES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 16,279, dated December 23, i856.

To all whom it may concern! l Be it known that I, E. W`. LACY, of Oak Fark, in the county of Madison, 'in the State of Virginia, have invented a new and useful Improvementin Machines for Breaking Hemp; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, andA to the letters of reference marked thereon.

rlhc nature of my invention consists in furnishing the movable breaker or sword arms with an adjustable weight, by means of which I can regulate'at pleasure, while the machine scribe its construction and operation. l

The general outline of my machine is similar to that'of all machines which employ the Vibrating'breaker or simple lever motion, as may be seen from thev drawings, in which* Figure 1, Plate I, is a top view, and Fig. 2, Plate ILa vertical longitudinal section through the center.

B B, 85e., represent the foundation framework; 'C C, Ste., four standards, .in the top of each of which is a box or bearing for one end of one of therock-shafts D D, and from which (on the outer sides) are projected the side frames, c c, in which are bearingsor boxes for the main driving-shaft G and the cam-shafts I I.

It It are.4 the stationary breaker blocks or standards resting upon and iirmly attached to the foumlation-frame B B, the'. In upper end of each ot' these standards is fastened one end of each of the stationary sword-arms b b, &e.,

Awhich diverge from. thence toward thecrossbeams c a, in which the other end of each is secured.

j S S are the movable breaker-blocks, and are supported by the bars Fi E, and other braces `when necessary.

c care the movable s\,vord arms,'one end of each beingv fastened int-o the block S, and the otherin one ofthe rock-shafts 1),'and meshing into the -stationary arms b b on whiclrthe stalks are l aid, i

A A are the main driving-pulleys.l -v ll ll' are thejdriving-pinions on-sha't G, and

mesh into the gears J ,Ion shaft-s I l', which l carry the toes or cams K K. Said shafts I I are so constructed as to slide longitudinally in their bearings for the purpose of bringing into operation different cams (on said shaft) which shall give different numbers of vibrations to the'breakers, while the shafts and piuions are running at auniform speed. Y

LL are two collars or shipperdiolders, in which rest the shippersZ l, which are operated M M are vthe lifting-levers, upon which the cams K K operate to lift the movable breakerblocks S S. Said lifting-levers are attached to-the bottoms of the rock-shafts D lD and braced by the iron arcs N N. E E are two shafts or bars secured iirmly to the rock-shafts, and which support the breaker-blocks S' S. v They are slotted lengthwise, (best seen at Fig. 1,"Plate 1,) and in said. slots move the adjustable weights F F, by which the momentum upon the stalks is regulated. The adjustablcrweight F is operated by .means of the band c, to which it is fastened, and which band is endless, passing over the pulleys c a.. On one face of a are cut teeth,which mesh into the pinion b; which is rotated in one direction or t-he other by means of the pulley f audits band r/,whieh also passes over pulley c, said pulley e being fast to drum E, which is rotated in'one direction or the other by the foot of the operator. .The operation oi' my machine is similar to many and requires but little explanation. Il is driven by steam or any other power by means of the drivingshaft G,which drives the shafts I I, on which are the cams K K,which operate on the levers M M to lift the breakers attached to the rock-shafts D D. rlhe shafts I I may be shipped to increase or diminishlhe number of vibrations of the breakers. as before described. i

\Vhen the machineis iu operation, the attendant ships the adjustable weight F by means of a pedal to such a point as at which it will give to the lstroke such a momentum as the quantity or quality ot' the stalks under the `instableweight maybe readily conceived when it is remembered that the great or only objec# tion to t'he vibrating brake is its non-capabiliy of regulation in the momenlumor l'orre ol' the blow dealt to the stalks, as is proved by the in- .by means of the 'sliding rods or handles l? IQ.

SaidA pinion is fast on shaft D,

breakermayrcquire. Theusefulnessofthisadventions which have been made to make the governed by :n treadle-roller or the equivalent y aw mrd-arms gradually impart the blow to make thereof to -regulateat pleasure the `momentum 12mm wedge the stalks, &e. of lthe blow .upon the stalks, as hereinbe'fore l [zwingthus fully explained the construct-i on described. :md operation of my machine and illustrated EDWARD W. LACY. its great use, what I. claim' as my invention, y, `\Vitnesses: and desire to secure by Letters lntent, isl l .T. N. MCINTIRE, The adjustable weight F, to be used with or l ARTHUR C. NVATKINS. 

